Antifreezing-valve.



No. 65l,023. Patented lune 5, |900. A. E. STEVENSON.

ANTIFREEZING' VALVE.

. (Application filed Oct. 19, 1899.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 65I,023. "Patented lune 5, |900.

y A. E. STEVENSON.

ANTIFREEZING VALVE.

(Application filed Oct. 19, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

, UNITED STATI-:s

PATENT Fries.

ARTHUR E. STEVENSON, OF BUFFALO, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO lVILLIAM IV. HAMMOND,l OF SAME PLACE.

ANTIFREEZING-VALVE.

'sracrsrcairroiv forming pm ef Lettere Patent No. 651,023, dated June 5, 1900. Applia'tin led October 19, 1899. Serial No. 734,109. (No model.)

To (all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHR E. STEVENSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at B u ffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improv'ements in Antifreezing-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of antifreezing-valves in which the supply and waste passages or branches are controlled by alternately-operating valves which cut off the escape of water through the waste-pipe when water is admitted to the valve-case and which permit the water to drain from the valve-case when the water-supply is shut off.

One of the objects of my invention is to improve the action of the valve-operating devices and to so construct the same that the valves and connecting parts can be readily withdrawn from the casing for making repairs.

A further object is to provide simple means for reliably keeping the water out of contact with the valve-operating devices, so as to prevent freezing and binding of the same.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure lis a sectional elevation of an antifreezing water-closet valve embodying my improvements. Figs. 2 and 3 are horizontal sections thereof in lines 2 2 and 3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4t is a vertical section of the lower portion of the valve at right angles to Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a sideelevation of the weighted lever mounted on the valve-operating shaft. Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a fire-hydrant prov ided with myimprovements. Fig. 7 isahorizontal section in line 7 7, Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the lower portion of the hydrant at right angles to Fig. 6.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the water-closet valve or stop and waste valve, (shown in Figs. l to 5,) A is the lower casing or chamber, whichv is located below the frost-line and which is provided with a supply branch ct, which is connected with the service-pipe, and with a waste branch ct', which is connected with the sewer, these supply and sewer connections not being shown in the drawings. Bis the upper casing or chamber, located above the floor or ground and containing the valve-operating mechanism, an'd O is a pipe, tube, or conduit which connects the lower end of the upper casing B with the upper end of the lower casing A, this pipe being preferably connected with said casings by screw-threaded joints, as shown. The lower casing A, upper casing B, and connecting-tube C together form practically a single valve casing or housing which incloses the valves and their stems and operating devices.

D D are vertically-movable valves which control the supply and waste branches a a' and which are adapted to close against valve seats or bushings e, arranged in the vertical inner ends of said branches, as shown in Fig. 4. The stemsf of these valves extend upwardly through the connecting-tube C into the upper casing B, and each valve-stem is provided at its upper end with an upright yoke F, which slides in vertical grooves or ways g, formed in the opposing walls of the upper casing, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

I-I is a horizontal operating-shaft which passes through the yokes F and is journaled in openings or bearings arranged in opposite sides of the upper casing B. 4The bearings of this shaft are preferably formed in screwplugs I I,Which are removably secured in internally-screw-threaded nipples t' t", which -projectfrom opposite sides ofthe casing B,

as shown in Fig. 2. Suitable packing-rings are interposed between these plugs and the outer ends of the nipplest' t', to form air-tight joints. The shaft'H is provided with two eccentricsj, which are arranged in the yokes F, respectively, so that upon turning the shaft the yokes and the valves D D, connected therewith, are moved vertically for opening or closing the valves. The two eccentrics are arranged on different sides of the shaft, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when the shaft is turned in one direction the supply-valve is opened and the waste-valve closed, and when the shaft is turned in the opposite direction the waste-valve is opened and the supplyvalve closed. The shaft H extends through one of the removable' plugs I I', and its projecting end is provided with any suitable means for turning it, such as the usual weighted lever H, employed on such closetvalves or stop and waste valves, as shown in the drawings. The plug I, through which the shaft H passes, is provided with a suitable stuffing-box 12.

The upper end of the upper casing B is closed by a screw plug or cap L, a packingringl being preferably interposed between the upper end of the casing and the liange of said plug to form an air-tight joint.

My improved operatingmechanism insures a smooth and easy action of the valves and produces a rectilinear movement thereof, which prevents uneven wearin g of the valves and their seats.

Upon removing the upper plug L and the plug I, through which the operating-shaft II passes, the shaft can be withdrawn from the yokes F through the nipple t, and the yokes and the valves D D connected therewith can then be withdrawn through the upper end of the casing B for repairing or renewing the valves. By this construction the valves can be conveniently removed and replaced without disconnecting the upper and lower casings A and B. The plugs I I on opposite sides of the upper casing B are interchangeable, so that the operating-shaft can be reversed and operated from either side of the valve, as may be most convenient.

M is the outlet or discharge pipe, which leads from one side of the upper casing B to the closet-bowl or other place of consumption.

N is a passage or leg arranged within the upper casing B between the operating-shaft H and the outlet M of the casing. This passage communicates at its upper end with said outlet and opens at its lower end into this casing B. The outer wall of this passage is formed by a hollow upright bulge N' of the casing B, and its inner wall is formed by a partition N2, which separates said passage and the outlet M from the remaining upper portion or space o of the casing and which extends iuwardly from a point above the outlet M and thence downwardly some distance below the operatingshaft II and yokes F. This isolated space 0 forms an air-chamber which contains the operating mechanismof the valves and which is closed at its upper end and its sides and opens at itsI lower end into the portion of the valve-Casin g below the partition N2. When water is admitted to the lower casing A, the same ascends into the upper .casing B and escapes through the leg or passage N into the discharge-pipe M. The incoming water also rises in the air space or chamber 0,' but as this chamber has no outlet the air in the same is compressed by the ascending column of water, and when the resistance of the compressed air overcomes the water-pressure in said chamber it prevents the further ascent of the water in said chamber. The partition N2 extends downwardly to such a depth that the cubic contents of the air-chamber o are sufficient to prevent the water from coming in contact with the yokes F, eccentrics j, and operating-shaft H, thereby preventing moistening of these parts and avoiding the freezing and binding of the same, which is liable to occur when they are coveredwith moisture.

In order to prevent freezing of the operating devices of Stich valves, it is only necessary to drain the water from the valve-casing and the passage connected therewith; but such devices must not be allowed to become wet or moist, because any moisture remaining on the same is liable to freeze and obstruct their action. By the use of my improvement the water is not permitted to reach the valve-operating devices, and all liability of their becoming frozen is therefore obviated, and this result is accomplished bythe addition of a single part, which can be cast in one piece with the valve-casing and which does not materially increase the cost of the valve.

Vith a water-pressure of thirty pounds to the square inch and the outlet open I have obtained satisfactory results by making the up` per valve-case two and three-eighths inches in diameter and extending the leg or passage N twelve and one-half inches below the operating-shaft H and making the same about three-fourths of an inch in diameter. In a valve of these dimensions the ascent of thc water in the air-chamber is checked when the water-level rises to a point about ten inches below the actuating-shaft H. The length of the leg N depends upon the prevailing waterpressure, the leg being `made longer for a higher pressure and shorter for a lower pres sure.

The partition N2 is arranged between the yokes F and at a sufficient distance from the operating-shaft H to permit the inner eccentric j to clear the same in withdrawing said shaft from the upper easing B.

The supply and waste branches a a are preferably made of the same diameter, as shown, so that the watersupply pipe may be connected to either of these branches and the Waste or sewer to the other, as may be most convenient.

Myimprovements are also desirable for fire, yard, and barn hydrants, street-Washers, and other supply appliances in which the water is liable to freeze. In Figs. G, 7, and 8 the improvements are shown as applied to a fire-l hydrant having a number of outlet branches M. In this ease the hydrant is provided with as many discharge legs or passages N3 as there are outlet branches.

I claim as my inventionl. In an antifreezing-valve, the combination with a valve-casing provided in its lower portion with inlet and waste passages and in its upper portion with vertical grooves or ways of valves applied to said passages, vertical stems extending upwardly from said valves and provided at their upper ends with vertical yokes which slide in said grooves or ways, and a horizontal operating-shaft jour- IOO IIO

IIS

naled in the valve-casing and provided with eccentrics which are arranged in said yokes, respectively, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a valve-casing provided in its lower portion with an inlet and in its upper portion with an outlet, of a valve applied to said inlet, an operating device for said valve arranged in the upper portion of said casing, and a discharge leg or passage arranged in the upper portion of the casing and connected with the outlet thereof, and extending downwardly below said valveoperating device, the upper portion of the casing being closed and isolated from said leg or passage, whereby the air in the upper portion of the casing is compressed by the water rising in the same, substantially as set forth. 3. The combination with a valve-casing provided in its lower portion with an inlet and in its upper portion with an outlet, of a valve applied to said inlet, an operating device for said valve arranged in the upper portion of said casing, and a wall or partition arranged in the upper portion of said casing between said valve-operating device and the outlet of the casing and extending below the valve-operating device,whereby an air-chamber is formed in the upper portion of the casing which is isolated from said outlet and in which the airis compressed bythe column of water ascending in the Valve-Casin g, substantially as set forth.

4.. In an antifreezingLvalve, the combina= tion with a closed valveecasing provided in its lower portion with inlet and waste passages and in its upper portion with an outlet, of valves applied to said passages, vertical stems extending upwardly from said valves and provided at their upper ends with upright yokes which slide in vertical grooves or ways arranged in said easing, a horizontal operating-shaft journaled in the upper portion of said casing and provided with eccentrics which are arranged in said yokes, respectively, and a discharge leg or passagearranged in the upper portion of the casing between said operating-shaft and the outlet of the casing and extending from said outlet downwardly below said operating-shaft and said yokes and eccentrics, substantially as set forth. Y

Witness my hand this 11th day of October, 1899.

ARTHUR E. STEVENSON Witnesses:

CARLF. GEYER, CLAUDIA M. BENTLEY. 

